Search - Sheba

A manly hero. A damsel in distress. An evil set of Nazis. And everyone smokes. A decent retro adventure, "Sheba", like many of its counterparts, takes place in 1939, before the invasion of Poland sets off World War II. From a Nazi plot to blow up the Suez canal via souther Arabia, to the search for the temple of the legendary Queen of Sheba, Higgins packs in all the standard elements: treasure, romance, violence, and lots of cigarettes. Gavin Kane is a textbook hero: intelligent, resourceful and mysterious. The two female characters are right out of a 1930s movie: one is a wife looking for her missing archaeologist husband; the other, half-French and half-Arabian, who runs a multi-national business with an iron fist, yet melts into Kane's arms when needed. It's a fun read, but there's not a lot of suspense, and some of the retro attitudes, such as the women being too physically weak to walk too far or escape captors, is a little annoying. The description of the Arabs is a little stereotypical, especially Selim, one of the villains, who is prone to dramatic statements, both verbal and physical. Canaris, a German officer, is the one character I wanted more of (and was a real person); he's witty and seems to be the only character with sense. Okay, but derivative for modern readers.

This audiobook is unabridged, and narrated by Patrick McNee (of the Original Avengers).